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This is a great thread. I haven't seen all of these mountain ranges, but I've seen most of them. I love them all, but nothing took my breath away like seeing the Rockies for the first time. They were absolutely amazing and earned my vote.
Having grown up in northwestern NJ/northeastern PA, the Appalachians take #2.
The Rocky Mountains of Colorado are my favorite. They are the tallest mountain range in the Continental US. Colorado has 54 peaks above 14,000 ft., California has only 13 or so. And even though Mt. Whitney in California is a tiny bit taller than Mt Elbert in Colorado (14,505 vs 14,440), the Sawatch range in colorado is overall taller than the Sierra Nevada's by Elevation above sea level. And Mt. Whitney is the only peak which can claim to be taller than the Colorado Rockies as a range. However the Sierra's and the Appalachians do have some more prominent peaks (Above Ground Level) than the Rockies and therefore a 12,500 ft peak in California may appear to be twice as tall as Mt Massive in Colorado, even though Mt. Massive is 14,400 feet or so above sea level. And because of this the Sierra's and the Appalachian's are also mountains that are jaw dropping. But nothing does this to me more than that famous "Rocky Mountain High".
I enjoy any mountains where I'm at the lowest altitude looking up at the highest altitude.
Seeing Mt. Rainier at sea level is an awesome site. Near 0 to 14,000+feet.
There are spots around Death Valley, Eastern Sierra's where you can get that low altitude/high altitude view. Or in Los Angeles, on a clear day, looking up at Mt. Baldy. Or even here in Las Vegas at 2165' looking up at Mt. Charleston at 11,950'. Reno and Salt Lake City suffer, again, from too much altitude 4000+ for the surrounding mountains to be really spectacular.
With Denver, you're already up at 5,280, so the mountains don't look that grand. If Denver or Colorado Springs both were at lower altitudes, the surrounding mountains would be breath-taking. Same with Albuquerque at 5000 feet and the Sandia Mountains.
Most awesome of all that I've seen is Mt. Anaconcagua in Chile at 22,800 feet and seeing it, on a rare clear day minus Santiago smog, from the coast or from Mendoza, on the other side of the range. How on earth can you forget a sight like that! Never!
My vote goes to the Southern Rockies in New Mexico and SW Colorado. Believe or not they have more than a few peaks above 12,000 ft. ...and there are some cool little old towns in those mountains.
...but I have to add that the Sierra Nevadas and the Cascades are absolutely beautiful too!!!! They're a close second.
I really can't choose between the Rockies and the Appalachians. I like all the trees out east, but love the high the rockies are known for. The vibes are so different, yet equally as rewarding for me.
Ozarks/Boston-Mountains are the only ones I know. I think I'd like the Southern Appalachias if I ever get a chance to see them. The Rockies look beautiful, but I get the sense they might be "too much" for me.
What are your favorite mountain ranges in the United States? Mine would be the Southern Appalacians, Cascades, Rockies, and the Sierras.
The Pocono Mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
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Rockies!
